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Dedicated to providing high quality inspection services to Relocation and Real Estate Professionals throughout the United States and Canada
 
 
 
 
 
Life Cycle >>
The life cycle guide is designed to show you the life expectancy of various components and applicances in your home and how much you can anticipate spending when it comes time to replace these items. The estimated costs are based on current industrial rates and may vary. Please click one of the sections below or use the scroll bar.
 
General Exterior Work Section
Roofing
     
Item
Average Life:
Average Cost (in $)
Asphalt Shingle 12-20 years 0.77-1.80/square feet
Rolled Mineral 7-10 years 0.45-1.13/square feet and up
Flat (Built up) 7-10 years  
Flat (Rolled) 8-12 years  
Composition/Built-up 10-25 years 1.80-3.60/square feet and up
Single ply rubberoid unknown 2.70+ /square feet and up
Wooden shingles 10-20 years 1.35-2.25/square feet and up
Wooden shakes 20+ years 2.25-3.15/square feet
Cement tile roofing 20-40 years 3.60+ and up
Asbestos cement shingles 40-60 years (Substitute materials usual replacement) 1.35-2.70/square feet and up
Tile 40-80 years  
Slate 40-80 years (Substitute materials usual replacement) 5.40-7.20/square feet and up
Terra Cotta 60+ years (Substitute materials usual replacement) 7.20-9.00/square feet and up
Metal 60+ years (Substitute materials usual replacement) 3.50-5.40/square feet and up
     
Gutters
     
Item
Average Life:
Average Cost (in $)
Flashing (Seal) 2-5 years  
Gutters (wood) 10-15 years  
Seamless Aluminum 15-25 years 1.80-2.70/linear feet and up
Flashing (replace) 15-20 years  
Galvanized Steel 20-30 years 2.93-4.50/square feet and up
Copper 40+ years 6.30+ /linear feet and up
     
Replacement, Remodeling, and Repair Costs
     
Item
  
Average Cost
Overlay existing asphalt shingle roof with new .59-.90/square feet and up
Tear off old asphalt shingle roof and overlay with new .90-1.13/square feet and up
Replace chimney flashing 90+ and up
Replace vent collar 18 each
Redo step and counter flashing 5/linear feet and up
Redo valley flashing 2/linear feet and up
Redo party wall flashing 5/linear feet and up
Replace 10 slates, tiles, etc. 90+ and up
Align gutters and respike 90+ and up
Caulking 0.18-.90/linear feet
Redo chimney cap 45-90 and up
Install chimney top damper 135+ and up
Install rain cap 59+ and up
Rebuild top 24 inches of chimney 360+ and up
Scrape and paint wooden siding 0.59+ /square feet and up
Add window wells and grade foundation 450+ and up
Sand and repair exterior door 68+ and up
Install new aluminum, steel, vinyl siding 2.25-3.15/square feet and up
Install new steel door and frame and hardware 450-630 and up
Extend roof edge to provide soffit vents 450+ and up
Point-up loose mortar 2.70+/square feet
Point-up hard mortar 5.40+/square feet
Parge coatings 1.13/square feet
Break-up and repour concrete slabs 4.50+ /square feet
Overlay asphalt driveway 1.13/square feet
Install or rebuild retaining wall 11/square feet and up
     
 
Structural Section
Buildings are considered permanent if reasonably constructed on appropriate soil. Generally their inner components require complete renovation of a 40-year cycle. The structure iteself normally experiences various repairs for damages. The following is a generalized list:
     
Item
  
Average Cost
Replace rotted wood deck 9-14/square feet and up
Replace wooden porch and steps 14-23/square feet and up
Install pressure treated column bases 23-68 each and up
Scab repair damaged joists 4-5/linear feet and up
Ledger and shim multiple joists 270+ and up
Underpin foundation corner 900+ /corner and up
Pin horizontal foundation crack 45/linear feet and up
Pier fotting for rotating stoop 675+ and up
     
 
Electrical Section
Electrical systems don't really wear out, but very old systems become dangerous due to wire jacket insulation becoming brittle, poor distribution, lack of grounding, etc. Old systems lacking sufficient capacity to power add on equipments are "heavied up", and those that lack distribution for increased convenience usually have circuits added. A heavy up usually consists of increasing the size of the cable and the distribution panel while increasing distribution is accomplished by adding individual circuits.
     
Item
Average Life:
Average Cost (in $)
Knob and tube system (Replace: considered obsolete) 2700+ and up
30 amp fuse service (Heavy up and add circuits) 900+ and up
60 amp fuse service 40 years  
     
Electrical Replacement, Remodeling, and Repair Costs
     
Item
Average Cost (in $)
Heavy up to 100 or 125 amps   360+ and up
Heavy up to 150 amps   405-450 and up
Heavy up to 200 amps   450-585 and up
Add small appliance circuit   90-180 and up
Install rheostat/dimmer   54-68 and up
Install dryer outlet   90-180 and up
Install ceiling paddle pan   225+ and up
Install ground fault breaker   90+ and up
Replace local GFI   59+ and up
     
Service and repair work includes a $30 house call fee